By Doncaster NHS researcher wins national BAME award
Clinical Studies Officer Louis Palmer, 24, has been named Researcher of the Year 2021 at the National black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) Health & Care Awards.
Louis is currently working with Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber (RDaSH) NHS Trust’s research team, Grounded Research, in its new Community Research Hub on the Tickhill Road site in Doncaster.
His main role is recruiting people with a BAME heritage to take part in research projects.
Although one in six of all NHS staff are from BAME backgrounds, many feel the contribution of BAME staff is not fully represented in mainstream media and society.
The National BAME Health and Care Awards seeks to recognise and celebrate the achievements of BAME staff and support networks.
Louis, whose mother and grandmother both worked for the NHS, said:
“My family have the NHS in our blood, so to be nominated for this award was fantastic and I feel very honoured to have won.
“These awards show some of the progress being made to support BAME staff to thrive in health and care, and I’m pleased to play my part in increasing equality, diversity and inclusion for our colleagues and patients.”
A statement issued by RDaSH added:
“Louis knows more than most how much BAME people contribute to the NHS. Louis’ grandma, Blanche Hines (82) left Jamaica in 1957 as part of the Windrush generation and started training as a nurse a couple of months later.
“During her long nursing career, she worked in hospitals in south and west Yorkshire – including a spell in charge of Tickhill Road Hospital’s Elm Ward.
“Blanche inspired her daughter Andrea Palmer (56) to follow her nursing career, and Andrea worked as a midwife at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, delivering many of the babies born at the hospital.”
Louis was named Researcher of the Year at a virtual awards ceremony on 22 April.
He was nominated alongside colleagues Head of Equality, Virginia Golding, and Chief Executive Kathryn Singh.
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